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A Short Introduction to Tromsø,the University of Tromsøand the Faculty of Health Sciences

On Top

of the

High North

Climate change

East Meets West

The Demand for Oil & Gas

Unspoiled Nature

Clean Food

A Cure for Cancer?

Tromsø in a Nutshell

Situated at 69°40′58″N 18°56′34″E

Founded 1794

Nicknames:

• “Paris of the North”

• “Gateway to the Arctic”

Population:

• 67.000 (urban area)

• The 8th largest city in Norway

Area 2.558 km2

• The largest urban municipality of Norway

• 40 .000 m2 per person

The University of Tromsø

• A classical university with a wide range of subjects taught.

• Merged with the Tromsø University college 1.1.2009

• 9.000 students, whereof 10% from abroad

• 2.800 staff• 2,1 billion NOK• More than 300 programs• Centers of Excellence,

Innovation, Peace andConflict Transformation,Sami studies, Tele-medicine, Women research,Biotechnology, Traditional Medicine etc.

• The University of Tromsø aims to be an academic institution of high international standing and with a special commitment to developing the North, combining quality and relevance, cutting-edge research and a wide range of educational opportunities

• The University of Tromsø aims to be at the international forefront in research and education pertaining to the Northern region.

• Particular emphasis shall be given to research in fields where the university has a comparative advantage due to its geographical location.

Aims & Commitments

Faculty of Health Sciences

This is where education, research and dissemination takes place within the fields of Psychology Biology Community medicine Clinical medicine Pharmacy DentistryAnd a host of health-related subjects, which

are normally University College subjects.

This comprehensive academic activity at our faculty is completely unique in a Norwegian context.

Faculty of Health Sciences

Education Medicine, dentistry,

pharmacy, psychology, nurses, bioengineers, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dental hygiene, public health nurses, midwifes

• Collaboration with hospitals and primary health care

Masters in biomedicine/telemedicine

Largest of faculties 8 departments 970 employees 3000 students

• 300 PhD-students

Programs (students/year)

• Medicine – 6 years (100)• Dentistry – 5 years (40)• Psychology – 6 years (35)• Pharmacy – 5 years (35)• Bioengineering (20) • Dental hygiene (18)• Occupational therapy (24)• Nursing (145), public health

nursing (20), midwife (20)• Physiotherapy (28)• Radiography (30)• Masters in Biomedicine (15),

Telemedicine (5-10), Laboratory medicine

Selected Research Activities

• Large population based research The Tromsø Study since 1974 The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study

(NOWAC)• Marine Bioprospecting• Telemedicine and E-Health• Translational medical and health care research• Department specific activities

The Tromsø Study

• Population based study in Tromsø, run by UoT

• Starting point in 1974: High cardiovascular mortality in North-Norway

• Study extended to cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, dementia – i.a. chronic diseases in ageing population, and skin diseases, bacterial colonization

• Screenings in 1974, 1979, 1986, 1994, 2001, 2008

• Repeated measurements and new birth cohorts

• Linked to disease and death registries of Norway

• A total of 40,000 participants

Tromsø Study Participants

Exposure Data

• Questionnaires

• Physiological measurements

• Serum/plasma

• Blood cells (DNA)

• Imaging data (carotid ultrasound, echocardio-/ retinography, bone scan)

Collaborations, Networks

• Biobank Norway (national infrastructure)

• MORGAM (Monica studies) CVD genetics

• DeCODE Genetics– atrial fibrillation genetics

• FUSION – Type 2 diabetes genetics

• IARC studies – cancer genetics

• ERFC – Emerging risk factors collaboration

• Tethys Bioscience Inc – novel biomarkers CVD

• EU FP7 CHANCES (Cohorts for healthy ageing networks Europe and US)

More Information - Tromsø Study

www.tromsoundersokelsen.no

- take a look at survey variables at

http://tromsoundersokelsen.uit.no/tromso

NOWAC – the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study

Random samples of Norwegian women

• 172 000 female participants recruited 1991-2006

• Questionnaire information, repeated up till three times

• Follow-up through linkage to national registers, and active search for biopsies of breast cancer and normal breast tissue

• Postgenome biobank with 50000 PAX tubes, plasma and ”buffy coat” (DNA)

TICE- Transcriptomics in Cancer Research

• The overall aim of the NOWAC postgenome cohort is to include transcriptomics (mRNA and miRNA) as part of the globolomic design in a population-based prospective study in order to explore systems epidemiology

• Transcriptomics in a globolomic design could be a measure of exposure, an intermediate in the carcinogenic process or classifying the outcome

• Supported by an Advanced Investigator Grant from The European Research Council in 2008

TICE - Aims

• Gene expression in peripheral blood as exposure indicator – biomarker (cross-sectional analysis)

• Diagnostic tests based on mRNA or miRNA for breast cancer (case-control)

• Prediagnostic tests based on blood gene expression (screening), all cancer sites (nested case-control in cohort design)

• Life style information and gene expression in relation to genetic profile of breast cancer and lung cancer

• Causal analysis of pathways• Contact information

nowac@ism. uit.no

MabCent- Research-based Innovation in Marine Bioprospecting

• Screen and characterize bioactive compound from Arctic and sub-Arctic marine organisms

• Research, innovation and commercialization

Anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, immunostimulants, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant

Specific enzyme activities and inhibitors

• MabCent activity and contact information is available at www.nfh.uit.no/mabcent

Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine

• Hosted by the University Hospital of North-Norway in collaboration with UoT

• Links for further information: www.uit.no/telemed

• Tromsø Telemedicine Laboratory Telemedicine and E-health systems for

chronic, age, and lifestyle-related diseases www.telemed.no/ttl

Credits, clockwisefrom top left:

Jon Terje EiteråMaja SojtaricLars Nordmo

Ola RøeMaja SojtaricMaja SojtaricRolf E. Tønne

Photo: Jon Terje Eiterå

”Tromsø is a city for great occasions” Norwegian Secretary of State Jonas Gahr Støre, December 2005